Lighter



Feb. 13, 1940. G. P. SCHMlTT 2,189,999

LIGHTER Filed Feb. 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENFOR.

Geo/7e Phil/p Schm/ff.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. P. SCHMITT LIGHTER Filed Feb. 5, 1956 Feb. 13, 1940.

INVENTOR'". Gearye Ph/Y/p Schm/ff.

ATTOFQ NEV Patented Feb. 13, 1940, 2

LIGHTER.v a u h George Philip Schmitt, New York, N. Y., assignor,

by mesne assignments, ,to Ca Inc., a corporation of New York dinal Products, 2

Application February 5, 1936, Serial No. 62,391:

7 Claims.

This invention relates, to lighters which employ a catalyst for igniting cigarettes and the like, wherein the vapor of alcohol or other vaporizable liquid carried by absorbent material is employed for effecting suchaction upon the catalyst, in the presence of atmosphericv air, as will render such catalyst incandescent, so that the cigarette or the like applied thereto and drawn upon, may be ignited.

The improvements herein contemplated include among others provision of a practical, efficient and economical lighter for cigarettes and the like, wherein a catalyst employed as the igniting element is retained in a holder located above a chamber for containing fuel vapor for coaction with the catalyst; the holder being designed, .con-' structed and arranged in the lighter such that the heat, resulting from the activity of the catalyst when the lighter is in operation, is retained within the holder, at or within the vicinity of the catalyst, and transference of the heat from the holder and catalyst toother parts of the lighter is substantiallyprevented thereby keeping said parts cool. Further improvements reside in making the chamber below the catalyst air tight'to enable the fuel vapor to be efliciently drawn up for coaction with the catalyst when the cigarette is drawn upon, and to also prevent condensation forming on the catalyst; and constructing the holder such that the tip of the cigarette while applied to the incande'sced catalyst is free from contact with the holder, conduction of heat from the ignited tip to the holder being thereby prevented.

Other features and advantages of my'invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings: a

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section and Fig. 2- a top plan viewof a lighter incorporating the invention, the same being sho in closed orinoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. and Fig. 4 a top plan view of the lighter shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary sectional viewtof the top of a lighter embodying the invention in a slightly modified form.

Fig. 5 is a sectionalview and Fig. 6 a top plan view of the catalyst and holder employed in the lighter indicated in Figs. 7 and 9.

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view, partly in section, and Fig. 8a top plan view of a further embodiment of the invention.

I Fig. 9, is a vertical'sectional view and Fig lO atop view ofthe same. a

Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively, top plan and side elevational views of the pusher arm."

Fig. 131s a top plan' view of the slideway: Referring to. the embodiment shown in lf'igs. 14a, housing or casing l2 may be of any desir- 5 able shape and may be made of any suitable material,composition or metal. Annular sleeve I26 I has aninner'flang'e I26 and, a threaded portion I I30 for threaded engagementwith the cover I21. 1 A resilient gasket [29 inhousing I25 and another gasket I28 in cover I21 serve as closure means as later explained. Sleeve I3I projects into housing I25 and is provided with a small projectionl32 which functions, as a friction member against .14 inner flange I 2B' thereby keeping the same rather ing I4llin member I ll (spaced from gasket I29) threadedly engages the opposite end of tube I39. Openings I42 in member MI provide forcircula-, tion of the vapor. Tube I39 is surrounded by the cylindrical contoured fuel charged absorbent mass or wick I43, which, isof a smaller outside diameter than the inside, diameter ofsleeve I I3I, 5

thereby providing a space all around the wick. The wick extends frombottom I31of shell I 35. to member MI. A compression or helical spring I44 centered on gasket-I29 engagesmember MI I to thereby support elements I35, I39, I4I and I43 in the extended position thereof indicated in Fig.3.y" j

The catalyst cupor holder I53 is provided at its top with a plurality of tongues or lugs I45, preferably tapered. The function of the lugsgis to reduce to a minimum thepo-ints of contact and thereby heat conduction'between holder I53 and other parts of the lighten, Recess I45 is formed in thelower part of holder I53 to prevent the 45 glowing top of the cigarette from touching the holder as ,the cigarette isbeing drawn upon for lighting the same. The heat at the .cigarette tip is preyented from being transferred to the holder.

The lighter will thus function withheat absorp- 5'0 tion byitsmetallicparts at a minimurn. Recess I46 is 'designed' so that its fwallwill be free from shellI35 when insertedtherein as indicated at I I'L" Holder I53 rests'against a heat'resisting gasket 55 pressure of lugs Hi5 against the inner wall of shell metal.

E35. Fig. 4a shows a modification in that shell N is provided With an internal bead lbl, against which tongues l5? are forced. An external bead forming channel into which' the tip of the lug may rest, may be employed, such as indicated by numeral Bi l in Fig. 5.

Seated on the bottom of holder M3 is a wire screen orperforated disk S preferably of approximately 100 mesh and made preferably of an alloy of nickel and copper, such as, for example, what is generally known in the trade as Monel Above this screen is located the catalyst which is here shown as being in the form of a pellet,' block or disk P and which may be composed of a suitably spongy platinum composition or the like. The catalyst maybe provided with a plurality of perforations 0. Above catalyst P is located a protective front covering or shield S for the catalyst, which may be in direct contact with the latter. Covering S is a perforated disk or plate or wire screen preferably of approximately 70 mesh and made preferably of an alloy of nickel and chomium which, may be in the proportion of about 80% nickel and 20% chromium and which may be of the type known under the trade-mark Nichrome. Covering S and catalyst P are held in place by means of a retainer ring R preferably made of the metal alloy known as Monel or the like. For this purpose under tension of spring Mt to close the passage for the fuel and air supply tube.

the retainer R. which is cup shaped is inverted andits annular wall press fitted between theside walls of the catalyst and holder. Retainer R has an opening tov permit contact of a cigarette with screen S for lighting purposes.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, cover 12'! having the inside gasket 28 is employed to force outer cup W5, sleeve EM 7 and associated elements inwardly until tube i359 presses against gasket i253 through the tube. 'By' turning cover l2! relative to housing I25, their complementary threads en age each other and the lighter is kept inoperative, the gasket E29 effecting a leaktight closure Upon removing cover l2l,.tube l3t is made to disengage from gasket 529 by the action of spring Md. Upon applying a cigarette to the catalyst and being drawn upon; air is drawnin through vents I35 and commingles with the fuel vapor in casing or housing 125, the mixture passing through tube I38 and opening M9 for coactionwith catalyst P. For filling purposes housing I25 is pulled away from sleeve idl and wick M3 saturated with the fuel. The sleeve l3! with attached outer cup iiit'and the elements associated with cup i355 constitute a sliding means for supporting or arranging the "catalyst in the path of fuel charged air from the casing.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 5-13, the numeral 365 indicates the wall of a fuel chamber or casing which may be of stream-lined or other suitable" shape in cross-section, and adapted to contain a vaporizable fuel vehicle. The lighter has a cap or cover 28 hinged to wall 35 at 21 which together with the member 28 completes the closure means. A top plate 35 forming the upper wall of the casing or container has a fuel opening 42 and an air duct or vent 43.

Extendingfrom vent 43 to near the bottom d8 of the casing is a tube or passageway 44. Within the casing is a wick 46 which acts as an absorbent for the fuel which may be alcohol fed into the casing through opening 22. Upon the top plate 35 a combined catch plate and slideway 34 is superimposed, one end of which has an upright member 33 carrying a stud or release button 32 extending through an opening 0 in wall 36 and the other end of which has another upright member 53 engaging an expansion spring 3'1. Spring 31 is arranged so that normally the button 32 protrudes through opening 0 in the position shown in Figure l but so that by pressing the button, 32 inwardly against the force of spring 37 an openingG in the raised end 33 of plate 35 may be caused to release or engage a stud or pin Y on the cap or cover 28. The slideway 34 has a cutaway part in its centre forming an opening 0 so that in any position it does not obscure the opening 42 or $3. Expansion spring 37 is located around anextension arm 38 of slideway t l, which arm passes through an opening 39 in the upright portion All of the fixed cover portion 35. Top plate 35 has the extension H19 providing a leaktight compartment below said plate.

Referring to the catalyst unit indicated generally in Fig. 7 by the numeral 56, and shown in detail in Figs. 5-6, the catalyst cup or holder I53. is provided at its top with a plurality of tongues orlugs lfilhand a recess Hi l is formed in the lower part of holder I53, similar to and for the same purposes as lugs I45 and recess I46 (Figs. 14a). The bulged wall of recess I94 is free from chamber as as indicated at I65. Holder I53 may be held in place by engagement of lugs Hill with the wall of channel ml or by any other suitable manner. Holder [53 with its throat m8, gasket H with its opening Hll', screens or. perforated disks S, S', retainer ring R, catalyst P and their respective dispositions are similar to the corresponding parts which have been described hereinabove with relationto Figs. l-4a. Chamber 64 may be provided with the bevelled edge I02 extending from channel I05; and also the vents or openings H33 for circulation of air to keep the chamber cool. Chamber 64 has a base plate or slide 65 press fitted or otherwise secured thereto.

Slide 65 has two catches which project upwardly. The cover or cap 28 is hinged to wall 36, and pivoted or hingedly secured at 29 to the cover is an arm or pusher 30 of which one end is bifurcated, the extremities of each limb 52, 53 having a detent or notch 54 which may be shaped as shown in Figure 11 and engaging the catch 55 of slide 65. A spring 3| presses on the arm or pusher 3B and against cover 28 so as to effect the engagement of 5 i and 55 and also acts as means to swing or force open cover 28 when release button 32 is pressed inwardly. The base plate or slide is provided with two channel members 51, 58' which guide the shank portion 59 of slideway or catch plate 34 and when the cover 23 is open, 1. e., in the operative position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the catalyst unit 56 lies vertically above the fuel opening $2. In closing and opening cover 28, pusher 30 will cause holder 58 to slide forward and backward over opening 42, and when the cover 28' is closed the holder 56 will slide away from opening-d2 to an inoperative position as seen in Fig. 9.

The arm 39 carries on: its underside a gasket cover is openpad (ii is clearof the fuel opening 42 andair opening t3, but when the cover is closed arm 3t movesholderfiti to, the position shown in Figure 9, and the pad M is brought into a position over the openings lfl, ill, the cover Zilexerting .a slight pressureon the stud" 5! to ensurethat the pad effectively seals said openings.

To localize the wick or absorbent material 46 to provide a vapor space there surrounding an upper screen or perforated plate 45 and a lower screen or perforated plate M are provided which are spaced from the top and bottom respectively and air passages 68, 61.

so as to provide the fuel vapor and air passages 49, 59 communicating with passages'fiii, 61. Tube 54 passes through the screens 45, 41. A complete circuitouspath is thereby provided on either side of tube M for the commingled fuel vapor and air to reach the catalyst P. i

It will be seen from the above that when cover 28 is closed the fuel chamber is sealed and the catalyst holder or chamber unit 55 is removed, from the fuel opening l?! whereas on opening cover 28 the unit 56 is brought into an operative A cigarette or thelike held against" position. the screen S of the catalyst cup 153" will be lighted if suction be applied by drawing upon the cig arette, owing to vapor and air (entering the caeing through duct 43) mixing in the passages in the casing and entering the catalyst cup in the presence of the catalyst incandescing the latter. I

The container may be refilled at any time by removing unit 56 from pusher 3t and slideway 34. This is accomplished by sliding unit 56 away from pusher til along slideway 34 (in which case catches 55 leave the notches '54), and detaching unit 56 from slideway 3 by passing the guides 57, 58 through the notches 62 in slideway 34. The

catalyst unit may thus be removed from, opena ing 42 into which the fuel may be poured. Replacement of unit 5% is readily effected by slidingly engaging the unit with slideway 34 through.

notches 62 and by sliding thecatches 55, under the detents 54. The portion of top p1ate35 surrounding openings. 52, i3 is raised as indicated at 10 to prevent the fuel from escaping between the plate andunit 56 when the latter is inoperative position. i

In order to maintain a seal tight joint at the bottom of the casing 26, a plate or auxiliary bot-, tom 48 issoldered or welded to wall 36. The casing is then finished off for ornamental purposes bypress-fitting a false bottom plate 63 within Wall 38, below plate d8. i a Variations within the spirit and scope of my invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

What I claim as new, and Letters Patent, is: g

1. A lighter comprising a casing, a cover for the casing, absorbent material to be saturated with vaporizable fuel, contained within said cas ing; said casing provided with air admission means enabling atmospheric air to contact with said absorbent material, a catalyst, means for arranging said catalyst in the path of fuel charged air from said casing; said latter means including an outer tubular member provided with a bottom having an opening, a holder within the said member for the catalyst, the said holder having tongues in contact with, and spacing the holder from, the said tubular member; the

- being provided with a recess in its wall desire to secure by ins, said casing provided with air, admission means enabling atmospheric ,air to contact with i said absorbent material, a catalyst,flmeans.sfor

arranging said catalyst in the path of fuel charged air from said casing, said latter means comprising a slidable support: said support in-n eluding an outer tubular member provided with of the casing to provide the respective fuel vapor The wick at is, and screens 35, ll may be, confined within the casing abottom having an opening, a holder within the said member 'for the catalyst, the said holder having tongues in contact with, and spacing the" means and said path.

3. A lighter comprising a casing, a cover for the casing; absorbent material to be saturated with vaporizable fuel, contained within said casing; said casing provided with an admission,

means enablingatmospheric air to contact with said absorbent material, a catalyst, means for arranging said catalyst in the path of fuel charged air from said casing; said latter means including an outer tubular member provided with a bottom, a heat resisting element resting on said bottom, anda holder resting on said element, said bottom, element and holder having axially alined openings communicable with said. path, and

means operable by the cover to admission means'and said path.

4. A lighter comprising a casing, a cover for the casing, absorbent material to be saturated with'vaporizable fuel, contained within said casclose said air ing; said casing provided with an admission means enabling atmospheric air to. contact with said absorbent material, a catalyst, means for arranging said catalyst in the path of fuel charged airxfrom said casing; said latter. means including an outer tubular member provided with a bottom having an opening, a holder within the said member for the, catalyst, the said holder having tonguesincontact with, and spacingthe holder from, the said tubular member; said holder adjacent thecatalyst to prevent the :tip of the applied cigarette while being ignited from touching the holder, andmeans operable by the cover to close saidair admission means and said path.

b 5. A lightericomprising;a-casing, a cover for the casing, absorbent material to be saturated with vaporizable fuel, contained within said casing; said casing provided with air admission means enabling; atmospheric air to contact with said absorbent material, a catalyst, means for arranging said catalyst in the path of fuel charged air from said casing; said latter means including an outer tubular'member provided with a bottom, a heat resisting element, resting on said v bottom, the bottom and element having axially alined openings, and a holder resting on'said element, theholder having a throat portion extending within and engaging the wall of the element opening, andmeans operable bythe cover. to close said'airadmission means and said path. i

6. A lighter comprising a casing forcontaining fuel and provided with air admission means enabling atmospheric air to contact with said fuel, a catalyst, means for arranging said catalyst in the path of fuel charged air from said casing,

said-latter means comprisinga chamber, and a '7. A lighter comprising a casing for containing fuel and provided with air admission means enabling atmospheric air to contactwith said fuel, a catalyst, means for arranging said catalyst in the path of fuel charged air from said casing, said latter means comprising a chamber, and a holder within said chamber for said catalyst,

said holder being provided with a recess in its wall adjacent the catalyst to space the tip of the cigarette when applied, from touching the holder.

GEORGE PHILIP SCI-IMI'IT. 

